If you don’t have a smartphone, ipod touch, or ipad at this point you may be in the minority… Ever since the launch of apple’s first iPhone they have seen explosive growth & demand for their products year after year. And since that launch, other smartphone makers have been scrambling to keep up with apple and its dominance in the mobile device market. They just broke ground again recently with the release of a new product, the iPad. Adding yet another mobile device into the mix. A report today: [http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/analyst_ipad_sales_could_top_28m_in_2011/?utm_campaign=feature]
estimates that sales of the iPad Could Top 28 million in 2011 and will eat away at more of the PC/Notebook market!!

A comment was also left on the macobserver stating that “It is a valuable accessory. It adds in-home mobility for browsing and email without the need of hauling the laptop around. It’s nice on the patio and awesome in the kitchen.”

And another site:
http://geekswithblogs.net/tshaaban/archive/2010/01/28/whatwillappleipaddotoecommerce.aspx
added that all they could think of, “was all the house wives sitting on their sofas watching” shows like QVC and the Home Shopping Network, “and using their iPads to do the shopping”. Before, they used, “a laptop with a power cable that the children tripped over.” He also added that, “An iPad not only promises the ‘best browsing experience’, but that it also avoids the biggest barrier to the average housewife/granny: The technophobia. Yes! The iPad is a computer but it doesn’t look like a computer, and as we’ve seen with all Apple’s products they are very easy to use and have a great user experience. This alone will be the biggest attraction for the non techie users who do not know what files are!” “they have created the ultimate experience where things just work and you do not need to know how they do! And still, because the iPad does not look like a computer, it will attract the Sofa dwellers to use the internet and order their Pizza, grocery, dresses online. Possibly even act on an advert they have just seen on Television before they forget all about it. Think of all the things we now do with a laptop accessible to all the non laptop people!”, “eCommerce retailers will benefit from the increased site traffic, but they will have to contend with a new breed of online shoppers: the grannies with their iPads. Sites will start to have simpler navigations with oversized elements to suite human finger dimensions.” I believe that sums up the change from mobile shopper’s that we are about to receive!

So what is the mobile-experience of your website like? Have you tried browsing your site on an iPhone or iPad yet? Here are some things to consider when browsing your website on a mobile device:

Are there any Errors? Is the site inoperable?
If so, you’ll want to get your developers on this immediately. That means any and possibly all of your potential mobile customers are being turned away from your site and not completing any orders at all. To find out faster, I would look into your Google or Yahoo Analytics to find out if any mobile devices may be having a problem with your site.

Is it easy enough to Navigate? (Are your buttons or links too
If your finding it difficult to click links or buttons on the mobile device you’re testing this on. Chances are, other mobile users are having the same problem. Consider making those frequently used buttons and links a little larger for your mobile users.

Is your checkout process too complicated. (Do you save account information for returning customers?)
Seeing how there’s no “real keyboard” on mobile devices, you’ll want to keep Data Entry to a minimum. Make sure your only asking for, or point out, your required fields during the checkout process. And if you don’t have it yet, consider adding a login process to your cart for return shoppers. That way all of their data is already saved on your site, and all they need to do is click “checkout”.

Is your site too wide? (Do you find yourself moving around a lot just to read product descriptions?)
You may find that some of your product description or rating descriptions are too wide or too long. Consider using a more conservative length and width for these sections and resort to using an auto-scroll for these sections to make content like this easier to read.

Do your changes justify looking into an App Solution? Or can you get by with making some of the changes mentioned above?
If your overwhelmed after viewing your site from a mobile device, and there are just too many changes you’ll need to make to cater to these shoppers, you may want to consider just looking into an app solution. A lot of sites exist out there that can do all of this work for you and give you a professional looking app for all of your mobile users.

So I hope this presentation has brought you awareness of your mobile customers, and given you some good ideas for what to look out for. Here’s a quick Recap:

Mobile Shoppers are Growing in Numbers.
And there’s no denying that. A report today is estimating that the iPad alone Could Top 28 million units in 2011 alone. Not to mention the 85 million iPhone & iPod touches Steve Jobs was boasting sold back in April! This is a growing trend, and to deny that is foolish.

If you haven’t already. Start looking for Errors on all of the major mobile devices.
Check your Google or Yahoo Analytics to find out which mobile devices have had the most usage on your website. Then test out your mobile experience on those devices.

Is your site Easy Enough to Navigate? (Are your buttons or links too small?)
Consider making your most frequently used buttons and links a little larger for your mobile users.

Is your site too wide? (Do you find yourself moving around a lot just to read product descriptions?)
Consider using a more conservative length and width for these sections and resort to using an auto-scroll for these sections to make content like this easier to read.

We call this service “Conversion Booster” , its ExclusiveConcepts full-service testing option . We do the work for you by gathering your analytics and determining the best changes for your site to maximize conversion rate. Then, we test those changes in an AB or Multivariate test and present you with the winning combinations! Its that simple. Give us a call at 1-800-504-4324 if you’re interested in learning more.

We would be honored to perform a free conversion audit on your qualified website today.

(6) Do your changes justify looking into an App Solution? Or can you get by with making some of the changes mentioned above?
If your overwhelmed after experiencing your site from a mobile device, and there are just too many changes you’ll need to make to cater to these shoppers, you may want to consider just looking into an app solution.

And if you don’t have the time or effort to put into deciding and making these changes to your site, let us do it for you! We can design & test these mobile-commerce strategies for you, procure and analyze their overall effect, and then present you with the winning changes for your site.